Collation system

ABSTRACT

A collation system of the present invention includes an imaging means for acquiring a captured image of a pre-passage side area with respect to a gate, a collation means for performing a collation process between a previously registered target and a target in the captured image, and a determination means for determining propriety of passage of the target with respect to the gate, on the basis of a result of the collation process. The collation means initiates the collation process on the basis of a condition, set to each area of the captured image, for the target located in the area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 18/199,463 filed on May 19, 2023, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/524,955filed on Nov. 12, 2021, which is a continuation application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/645,196 filed on Mar. 6, 2020, whichissued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,210,496, which is a National Stage Entry ofinternational application PCT/JP2018/029806 filed on Aug. 8, 2018, whichclaims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application2017-179063 filed on Sep. 19, 2017, the disclosures of all of which areincorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a collation system, and in particular,to a collation system for performing collation on a target that is aboutto pass through a gate.

BACKGROUND ART

As a means for limiting or managing persons who enter or leave aspecific location such as an office or an event site, a collation systemis used to perform collation on a person who is about to pass through soas to check whether or not the person is a previously registered person.In particular, since a face authentication technique has been developedrecently, a walkthrough face authentication system has been used toperform face authentication from a face image of a person captured by acamera installed at a gate.

-   Patent Literature 1: JP 2015-1790 A

SUMMARY

In a walkthrough face authentication system, there is a case where aplurality of gates are installed adjacently, and lanes on which personsmove toward the respective gates are provided adjacently. In that case,in an image in which persons moving on a lane of a gate are captured,there is a case where a person moving on the adjacent lane toward theadjacent gate is also shown. Therefore, a person moving on the adjacentlane may be erroneously recognized as a person moving on the own lane,which may hinder collation of a person passing through the own gateprovided ahead of the own lane. Therefore, in a state where a pluralityof gates are installed, erroneous recognition of a person moving towardeach gate should be suppressed.

Further, as art related to the walkthrough face authentication system,art described in Patent Literature 1 has been known. Patent Literature 1presents a problem that authentication is completed when a person islocated away from the gate and the gate is opened before the personreaches the gate. In order to solve such a problem, in Patent Literature1, collation is performed between a captured face image of a person anda registered face image, and based on the size of the collated person onthe input image, approaching to the gate of the person is detected.

However, in Patent Literature 1, a collation process is performed on allpersons shown in the input image, and then, approaching to the gate of aperson whose collation has succeeded is detected. This causes a problemthat a processing load of a collation process is always placed on theinformation processing apparatus.

Further, a problem of erroneous recognition of persons moving toward therespective gates and a problem that a processing load of a collationprocess is always placed on the information processing apparatus may becaused not only in the case where a target that is about to pass throughthe gate is a person but also in the case where collation is performedon any target.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a collationsystem capable of solving the problems described above, that is, aproblem of erroneous recognition of a target that is about to passthrough the gate and a problem that a processing load is always placedon the information processing apparatus.

A collation system, according to one aspect of the present invention,includes

-   -   an imaging means for acquiring a captured image of a pre-passage        side area with respect to a gate;    -   a collation means for performing a collation process between a        previously registered target and a target in the captured image;        and    -   a determination means for determining propriety of passage of        the target with respect to the gate, on a basis of a result of        the collation process.

The collation means is configured to initiate the collation process onthe basis of a condition, set to each area of the captured image, forthe target located in the area.

Further, an information processing apparatus, according to one aspect ofthe present invention, includes

-   -   a collation means for performing a collation process between a        target in a captured image of a pre-passage side area with        respect to a gate and a previously registered target; and    -   a determination means for determining propriety of passage of        the target with respect to the gate, on the basis of a result of        the collation process.

The collation means initiates the collation process on the basis of acondition, set to each area of the captured image, for the targetlocated in the area.

Further, a program, according to one aspect of the present invention, isa program for causing an information processing apparatus to realize

-   -   a collation means for performing a collation process between a        target in a captured image of a pre-passage side area with        respect to a gate and a previously registered target; and    -   a determination means for determining propriety of passage of        the target with respect to the gate, on a basis of a result of        the collation process.

The collation means is configured to initiate the collation process onthe basis of a condition, set to each area of the captured image, forthe target located in the area.

Further, a collation method, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, is a method including, by an information processingapparatus,

-   -   performing a collation process between a target in a captured        image of a pre-passage side area with respect to a gate and a        previously registered target; and    -   determining propriety of passage of the target with respect to        the gate, on a basis of a result of the collation process.

The information processing apparatus is configured to initiate thecollation process on the basis of a condition, set to each area of thecaptured image, for the target located in the area.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it ispossible to suppress erroneous recognition of a target that is about topass through the gate, and to suppress unnecessary collation processesto thereby reduce the processing load to be placed on the informationprocessing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a used state of a face authentication systemaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the faceauthentication system according to the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an imaging state by the face authentication systemdisclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4A illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 3 by the face authentication system disclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4B illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 3 by the face authentication system disclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 illustrates an imaging state by the face authentication systemdisclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6A illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 5 by the face authentication system disclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6B illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 5 by the face authentication system disclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation by the faceauthentication system disclosed in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 illustrates an imaging state by a face authentication systemaccording to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 8 by the face authentication system according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 8 by the face authentication system according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an imaging state by the face authentication systemaccording to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11A illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 10 by the face authentication system according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11B illustrates a captured image captured in the imaging state ofFIG. 10 by the face authentication system according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a collationsystem according to a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of aninformation processing apparatus according to the third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS First Exemplary Embodiment

A first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 . FIG. 1 illustrates a used state of aface authentication system. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a faceauthentication system. FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams for explainingprocessing operation of the face authentication system.

[Overall Configuration]

A face authentication system 10 (collation system) of the presentinvention is a system to be used for limiting and managing entrance/exitof persons (targets) at a specific location such as an office or anevent site. For example, an imaging device constituting the faceauthentication system 10 is installed for each gate that is opened andclosed when a person enters or leaves, in the vicinity of the installedlocation of the gate.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1 , three gates G1, G2, and G3 areadjacently arranged in parallel with each other, and are configured suchthat persons go through in a direction shown by arrows from the rightside in FIG. 1 toward the respective gates G1, G2, and G3. Therefore,the right side area in FIG. 1 with respect to each of the gates G1, G2,and G3 is an area before a person passes through the gate (pre-passageside area). In the pre-passage side areas of the respective gates G1,G2, and G3, lanes R1, R2, and R3, on which persons who are about to passthrough the gates G1, G2, and G3 move in lines, are located in parallelwith each other corresponding to the gates G1, G2, and G3, respectively.Note that the respective lanes R1, R2, and R3 may or may not bepartitioned with some members.

In the state illustrated in FIG. 1 , imaging devices C1, C2, and C3constituting the face authentication system 10 in the present embodimentare installed in the vicinity of the corresponding gates G1, G2, and G3,respectively, on the right side thereof as viewed from the personsmoving toward the respective gates G1, G2, and G3. However, theinstallation positions of the imaging devices are not limited to thepositions as illustrated in FIG. 1 . They may be installed at anypositions such as a left side as viewed toward the gates or above thegates. Note that the face authentication system 10 also has displaydevices in the vicinity of the imaging devices C1, C2, and C3.

In the face authentication system 10, at the gate G1, for example, animage of a person moving toward the gate G1 is captured by the installedimaging device C1. Then, from a face image of the person shown in thecaptured image, collation is performed to check whether or not theperson is a previously registered person. When the collation succeeded,a process of opening the gate G1 is performed so as to allow the personto pass through. The configuration of the face authentication system 10will be described in detail below. Note that while description will begiven below on the face authentication system 10 provided correspondingto the gate G1, a face authentication system provided corresponding toanother gate G2 or G3 has the same configuration.

[Configuration of Face Authentication System]

The face authentication system 10 of the present embodiment is aninformation processing apparatus including an arithmetic device and astorage device integrally formed with the imaging device C1 (camera) anda display device D1 (display). Put another way, an informationprocessing apparatus having an arithmetic unit that performs faceauthentication processing and a storage unit, and the display device D1are mounted on the imaging device C1. However, the face authenticationsystem 10 is not necessarily limited to that integrally formed with theimaging device C1 and the display device D1. For example, the imagingdevice C1, the display device D1, and the information processingapparatus that processes captured images may be different devices andinstalled at different locations.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the face authentication system10 includes the imaging device C1 and the display device D1, and alsoincludes a target extraction unit 11 constructed by execution of aprogram by the arithmetic unit, a condition determination unit 12, acollation unit 13, and a gate control unit 14. The face authenticationsystem 10 also includes a collation condition storage unit 15 and acollation data storage unit 16 that are constructed in the storage unit.

The imaging device C1 (imaging means) is provided with a camera foracquiring a captured image of a pre-passage side area with respect tothe gate G1, that is, an area in front of the gate G1 of thecorresponding lane R1, at a predetermined frame rate, and a cameracontrol unit. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the capturing area of theimaging device C1 is a range between lines C1 a, for example. Here, thecapturing area of the imaging device C1 is set such that a person P10,moving on the lane R1 (own lane) corresponding to the gate G1 at whichthe imaging device C1 is installed, is located in a center area in thehorizontal direction between lines C1 b of the capturing area. Note thatthe captured image is set to be roughly focused in a range of a presetdistance in the approaching direction with respect to the imaging deviceC1, that is, a distance from a line L1 to a line L2 illustrated in FIG.3 , for example.

Since the capturing area of the imaging device C1 is set as describedabove, in an end area in the horizontal direction with respect to thecenter area, that is, in an area between the line C1 a and the line C1of the capturing area, a person P20 moving on the lane R2 correspondingto the adjacent gate G2 may be shown, in the state illustrated in FIGS.3, 4A, and 4B. Further, in the state illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B,a person P12 located on the own lane R1, corresponding to the own gateG1 at which the imaging device C1 is installed, may be shown in the endarea. Even if such a state is caused, the face authentication system 10of the present invention is configured to enable determination ofpropriety of gate passage by appropriately recognize the person P12 whois about to pass through the own gate G1, and to reduce the processingload.

The target extraction unit 11 (target information detection means)acquires a captured image from the imaging device C1, and detectsdetermination information (target information) to be used fordetermining whether or not to initiate a collation process, as describedbelow, for example. First, a face area of a person who is a processingtarget is extracted from a captured image. Extraction of a face area ofa person is performed by determining the position, color, and the likewith respect to the entire image of a moving person. Then, the targetextraction unit 11 detects the feature of the person as determinationinformation, from the face area. In the present embodiment, a feature asdetermination information is a distance between the eyes of a person(inter-eye distance), and is detected as denoted by references signsd10, d20, and d12 illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 6A, and 6B. However, amethod of detecting the inter-eye distance is not limited to the methodsdescribed above. Detection may be performed by any method. Also, thedetermination information may be any information representing a featureof a person, and may be detected by any method.

The condition determination unit 12 (collation means) determines whetheror not the inter-eye distance d10, d20, or d12 that is a feature of aperson as determination information detected by the target extractionunit 11 satisfies the condition for initiating a collation process. Inthe present embodiment, as the condition for initiating a collationprocess, different values are set to areas where a person is located inthe captured image, that is, different values are set to a center areaand an end area in the captured image. Such values are stored in advancein the collation condition storage unit 15. For example, as a conditionvalue Tc corresponding to the center area of a captured image, when aperson is located on the lane R1 of the own gate G1, a value that mustbe exceeded by the inter-eye distance of the person is set. On the otherhand, as a condition value Te corresponding to the end area of thecapture image, a value larger than the value Tc set to the center areais set (Te>Tc). As an example, as the condition value Te correspondingto the end area, a value that is smaller than the inter-eye distance d12of a person P12 located closer to the imaging device 1 on the lane R1 ofthe own gate G1 as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B, and is larger thanthe inter-eye distance d20 of a person P20 on the adjacent lane R2 asillustrated in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, is set.

In the above-described state, the condition determination unit 12determines whether or not the inter-eye distance d10, d20, or d12 thatis a feature of the person as determination information exceeds thecondition value (Tc or Te) set to the area in the captured image wherethe person is located. For example, in the case of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B,for a person P10 located in the center area of the captured image, it isdetermined whether or not the inter-eye distance d10 exceeds thecondition value Tc set to the center area. Meanwhile, for the person P20located in the end area of the captured image, it is determined whetheror not the inter-eye distance d20 exceeds the condition value Te set tothe end area. Similarly, in the case of FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, for theperson P10 located in the center area of the captured image, it isdetermined whether or not the inter-eye distance d10 exceeds thecondition value Tc set to the center area. Meanwhile, for the person P12located in the end area of the captured image, it is determined whetheror not the inter-eye distance d12 exceeds the condition value Te set tothe end area. In the example of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the person P10 inthe center area satisfies the condition and the person P20 in the endarea does not satisfy the condition. In the example of FIGS. 5, 6A, and6B, the person P10 in the center area satisfies the condition and theperson P12 in the end area also satisfies the condition.

When the condition determination unit 12 determines that the inter-eyedistance of a person exceeds the condition value set to the area wherethe person is located, that is, when the condition is satisfied, thecollation unit 13 (collation means) initiates a collation process withrespect to such a person. In other words, the collation unit 13 does notperform a collation process on a person determined, by the conditiondetermination unit 12, that the condition is not satisfied. Here, acollation process is performed as described below, for example. First, afeature amount required for collation is generated from the face area ofa person who is a target of a collation process. Then, a collation scoresuch as similarity between the generated feature amount and the featureamount of the person having been registered in the collation datastorage unit 16 is calculated, and it is determined whether or not thecollation score is higher than a threshold. When the collation score ishigher than the threshold, it is determined that the collation hassucceeded and that the person who is about to pass through the gate G1is the person having been registered. At this time, the feature amountof the person to be detected for collation may be a feature amount usedin an existing face collation technique, and may be a feature amountcalculated by any method. Also, as the collation method, any method maybe used.

The gate control unit 14 (determination means) first determinespropriety of passage of the person with respect to the gate G1, based onthe collation result by the collation unit 13. Specifically, it isdetermined that the person whose collation by the collation unit 13 hasbeen succeeded is allowed to pass through. The gate control unit 14 alsohas a function of displaying the collation result, that is, success orfailure of collation, on the display device D1. Moreover, the gatecontrol unit 14 also has a gate control function to open or close thegate G1, and performs control to open the gate for the person determinedto be allowed to pass through.

Note that the display device D1 is installed such that the displaysurface faces the pre-passage side area of the gate G1 so as to beviewable by the person who is about to pass through the gate G1.However, the display device D1 is not necessarily provided.

[Operation]

Next, operation of the face authentication system 10 as described abovewill be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 . Here,operation of the face authentication system 10 corresponding to the gateG1 will be described. Description will be given on the case where thecapturing state by the imaging device C1 is as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to6B, as an example.

The imaging device C1 corresponding to the gate G1 continuously capturesimages of the pre-passage side area of the gate G1. Then, the faceauthentication system 10 regularly performs processing, as describedbelow, on the captured images.

First, the target extraction unit 11 extracts a person (target) to beprocessed from a captured image (step S1). Then, from the extractedperson, the target extraction unit 11 detects a feature of the person,that is, an inter-eye distance of the person in this case, asdetermination information necessary for performing conditiondetermination for initiating the collation process (step S2). Forexample, the inter-eye distance is detected as denoted by the referencesign d10 or d20 of FIG. 4 or the reference sign d10 or d12 of FIG. 6 .

Then, the condition determination unit 12 determines whether or not theinter-eye distance that is the detected determination informationsatisfies the condition for initiating the collation process. At thistime, since a condition value is set to each area where the person islocated, the condition determination unit 12 reads the condition valuecorresponding to the location of the person from the collation conditionstorage unit 15, and determines whether or not the detected inter-eyedistance exceeds the condition value (step S3). Similarly, in theexample of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, it is determined that the inter-eyedistance d10 of the person P10 located in the center area of thecaptured image exceeds the condition value Tc set to the center area.Then, it is determined that the inter-eye distance d20 of the person P20located in the end area of the captured image does not exceed thecondition value Te, set to the end area, that is a larger value than thevalue Tc. Therefore, it is determined that only the person P10 satisfiesthe condition for initiating the collation process (Yes at step S3).Similarly, in the example of FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, it is determined thatthe inter-eye distance d10 of the person P10 located in the center areaof the captured image exceeds the condition value Tc set to the centerarea. Then, it is determined that the inter-eye distance d12 of a personP12 located in the end area of the captured image exceeds the conditionvalue Te set to the end area. Therefore, in the example of FIGS. 5, 6A,and 6B, it is determined that the person P10 and the person P12 satisfythe condition for starting the collation process (Yes at step S3).

Then, the collation unit 13 initiates the collation process with respectto the person determined, by the condition determination unit 12, thatthe inter-eye distance exceeds the condition value set to each area(step S4). In the example of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the collation unit 13initiates the collation process only for the person P10, and in theexample of FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, the collation unit 13 initiates thecollation process for the person P10 and the person P12. In thecollation process, first, a feature amount necessary for collation isdetected from the face area of the person who is a target of thecollation process, and the feature amount is collated with the featureamount of the person having been registered in the collation datastorage unit 16, whereby a collation score is acquired. Then, it isdetermined whether or not the collation score exceeds a threshold. Inthe example of FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, while the person P10 and the personP12 are collation targets, the collation process may be initiated forthe person P12 having a larger inter-eye distance that is determinationinformation in preference, to determine propriety of passage and to openor close the gate, as described below.

As a result of the collation process by the collation unit 13, whencollation of the person who is about to pass through has succeeded (Yesat step S5), the gate control unit 14 (determination means) allowspassage of the person with respect to the gate G1 and performs controlto open the gate G1 (step S6). At that time, the gate control device 14displays propriety of passage on the display device D1.

As described above, according to the face authentication system 10 ofthe present embodiment, it is possible to suppress a collation processwith respect to the person P20 who is about to pass through the adjacentgate G2, and to perform a collation process appropriately on the personsP10 and P12 who are about to pass through the own gate G1. For example,in the example of FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, a collation process is performedon the person P10 who is about to pass through the own rage G1 but isnot performed on the person P20 who is about to pass through theadjacent gate G2. Further, in the example of FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, evenfor the person P12 shown in the end area of the captured image, sincethe person P12 is about to pass through the own gate G1, a collationprocess is performed appropriately. Consequently, it is possible tosuppress erroneous recognition of a person who is about to pass throughanother gate, and to suppress unnecessary collation processes to therebyreduce the processing load on the information processing apparatus.

Note that although an example is given for the case where area insidethe captured image is divided into a center area and end areas in thehorizontal direction, it may be divided into different areas. Even inthat case, a condition for initiating a collation process is set to eacharea.

Further, while description has been given on the case where thedetermination information that is a feature of a person to be comparedwith a condition value for initiating a collation process is aninter-eye distance, the determination information may be a distancebetween other parts constituting the face of a person, or a valuerepresenting the size of another part of a person. Corresponding to it,a condition value for initiating a collation process is set to each areaof the captured image.

Further, while description has been given, as an example, on the casewhere a target that is about to pass through the gate G1 is a person, itis not limited to a person but may be any object. For example, an objectsuch as baggage is also acceptable. Corresponding to it, determinationinformation representing a feature of a target to be compared with acondition value for initiating a collation process may be informationrepresenting any feature that can be detected from the object. Further,for performing a collation process, any feature amount that can bedetected from the object may be used.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 8 to 11B. FIGS. 8 to 11A are diagrams forexplaining a processing operation of a face authentication system.

A face authentication system 10 of the present embodiment has aconfiguration similar to that of the face authentication system of thefirst exemplary embodiment described above. However, the criterion fordetermining whether or not a condition for initiating a collationprocess differs. This means that in the present embodiment, theorientation of a person with respect to the gate G1 is detected asdetermination information from a captured image, and when thedetermination information satisfies the condition set from each area ofthe captured image, a collation process is initiated. A configurationdifferent from that of the first exemplary embodiment will be mainlydescribed in detail below.

The target extraction unit 11 (target information detection means) ofthe present embodiment first extracts the face area of a person to beprocessed from a captured image. Then, as a feature of the person thatis determination information to be used for determining whether or notto initiate a collation process, the target extraction unit 11 detectsthe orientation of the face of the person with respect to the own gateG1. Specifically, as determination information, an angle of the frontface with respect to an optical axis A1 of the imaging device C1 isdetected. For example, parts such as eyes, nose, and mouth constitutingthe face of a person are extracted and the absolute orientation of theface is detected from the positional relationship between them, andfurther, the installation angle of the imaging device C1 is alsoconsidered, whereby an angle of the face with respect to the imagingdevice C1 can be detected. Note that the orientation of the face may bedetected by any method.

Then, the condition determination unit 12 (collation means) of thepresent embodiment determines whether or not the angle of the face withrespect to the imaging device C1 that is determination informationdetected by the target extraction unit 11 satisfies the condition forinitiating the collation process set to each area of the captured image.In the present embodiment, as the condition for initiating the collationprocess, different values are set to the center area and the end area inthe horizontal direction of the captured image. Such values are storedin advance in the collation condition storage unit 15.

Here, condition values that are set corresponding to the center area andthe end area of the captured image respectively will be described. Asillustrated in FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B, a person P10 located in the centerarea of the captured image and moving toward the own gate G1 has a highpossibility of facing the capturing direction of the imaging device.Therefore, it is highly likely that an angle defined by the direction ofan optical axis A1 of the imaging device C1 and the direction of thefront face of the person P10 is extremely small. On the other hand,regarding a person P20 located in the end area of the captured image andmoving toward the adjacent gate G2, there is a high possibility that theperson P20 faces the capturing direction of the imaging device C2installed at the gate G2. Therefore, there is a high possibility thatthe person P20 does not face the capturing direction of the imagingdevice C1. Therefore, it is highly likely that an angle defined by thedirection of the optical axis A1 of the imaging device C1 and thedirection of the front face of the person P20 is extremely large.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B, in the case of aperson P12 who is located in the end area of the captured image butmoving toward the own gate G1, there is a high possibility that theperson P12 faces the capturing direction of the imaging device C1.Therefore, it is highly likely that an angle defined by the direction ofthe optical axis A1 of the imaging device C1 and the direction of theface of the person P12 is smaller than the angle of the person P20located on the lane R2 of the adjacent gate G2.

In consideration of the fact described above, since it is expected thatthe angle that is a feature of the person P10 located in the center areaand moving toward the own gate G1 has an extremely small value, thecondition value corresponding to the center area of the captured imageis set to a small value that includes such an angle. Therefore, thecondition value corresponding to the center area is set to 10°, forexample. Meanwhile, the condition value corresponding to the end area ofthe captured image is set to be larger than the condition valuecorresponding to the center area. This is because an angle that isdetermination information of the person P12 located in the end area andmoving toward the own gate G is expected to be larger than that of theperson P10 in the center area. However, the condition valuecorresponding to the end area is set to a value smaller than theexpected angle of the person P20 of the adjacent gate G2. Therefore, thecondition value corresponding to the end area is set to 60°, forexample. However, the condition value is not limited to the valuesdescribed above. It may be set appropriately, depending on the situationsuch as gate arrangement.

In the above-described state, the condition determination unit 12determines whether or not the angle of the face with respect to theimaging device C1, that is, a feature of the person as determinationinformation, is equal to or smaller than the condition value set to thearea in the captured image where the person is located. For example, inthe case of FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B, for the person P10 located in thecenter area of the captured image, it is determined whether or not theangle thereof is equal to or smaller than the condition value set to thecenter area, and for the person P20 located in the end area of thecaptured image, it is determined whether or not the angle thereof isequal to or smaller than the condition value set to the end area.Similarly, in the case of FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B, for the person P10located in the center area of the captured image, it is determinedwhether or not the angle thereof is equal to or smaller than thecondition value set to the center area, and for the person P12 locatedin the end area of the captured image, it is determined whether or notthe angle thereof is equal to or smaller than the condition value set tothe end area. In the example of FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B, the person P10 inthe center area satisfies the condition and the person P20 in the endarea does not satisfy the condition. In the example of FIGS. 10, 11A,and 11B, the person P10 in the center area satisfies the condition andthe person P12 in the end area also satisfies the condition.

When the condition determination unit 12 determines that the angle of aperson with respect to the imaging device C1 is equal to or smaller thanthe condition value set to the area where the person is located, thatis, the condition is satisfied, the collation unit 13 (collation means)initiates a collation process for the person. In other words, thecollation unit 13 does not perform a collation process for a persondetermined, by the condition determination unit 12, that the conditionis not satisfied.

As described above, according to the face authentication system 10 ofthe present embodiment, it is possible to suppress collation processeswith respect to persons who are about to pass through the adjacent gateG2, and to perform a collation process appropriately on a person who isabout to pass through the own gate G1. Consequently, it is possible tosuppress erroneous recognition of a person who is about to pass throughanother gate, and to suppress unnecessary collation processes to therebyreduce the processing load of the information processing apparatus.

Note that the orientation of the face that is a feature of a person asthe determination information is not limited to the orientation of theface with respect to the imaging device C1. It may be a value of anycriterion. Also, a condition value for initiating a collation process isnot limited to the value described above but may be any value.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 . FIG. 12 is a block diagramillustrating a configuration of a collation system according to thethird exemplary embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating aconfiguration of an image processing apparatus according to the thirdexemplary embodiment. Note that the present embodiment shows the outlineof the configuration of the face authentication system described in thefirst exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 12 , a collation system 100 of the presentembodiment includes

-   -   an imaging means 110 for acquiring a captured image of a        pre-passage side area with respect to a gate,    -   a collation means 120 for performing a collation process between        a previously registered target and a target in the captured        image, and    -   a determination means 130 for determining propriety of passage        of the target with respect to the gate, on the basis of a result        of the collation process.

The collation means 120 is configured to initiate the collation processon the basis of a condition, for the target located in the area, set toeach area of the captured image.

In the present embodiment, the imaging means 110 may be removed from thecollation system 100 illustrated in FIG. 12 .

That is, an information processing apparatus 200 of the presentembodiment includes

-   -   a collation means 210 for performing a collation process between        a target in a captured image of a pre-passage side area with        respect to a gate, and a previously registered target, and    -   a determination means 220 for determining propriety of passage        of the target with respect to the gate, on the basis of a result        of the collation process.

The collation means 210 is configured to initiate the collation processon the basis of a condition, for the target located in the area, set toeach area of the captured image.

Note that each of the collation means 120, 210 and the determinationmeans 130, 220 may be constructed by execution of a program by anarithmetic unit, or may be constructed by an electronic circuit.

According to the collation system 100 or the information processingapparatus 200 having the configurations described above,

-   -   a collation method including    -   performing a collation process between a target in a captured        image of a pre-passage side area with respect to a gate, and a        previously registered target, and    -   determining propriety of passage of the target with respect to        the gate, on the basis of a result of the collation process, is        provided.

Such a collation method has a configuration of initiating the collationprocess for the target located in an area, on the basis of a conditionthat is set to each area of the captured image.

According to the collation system 100 or the information processingapparatus 200, for a target located in a given area of a captured image,a collation process is initiated when the target satisfies the conditionset to the area. Therefore, even if a target who is about to passthrough another gate is shown in a captured image, it is possible toprevent initiation of a collation process with respect to the target,depending on the condition set to the area where the target is shown.Consequently, it is possible to suppress erroneous recognition of aperson who is about to pass through a gate, and to suppress anunnecessary collation process to thereby reduce the processing load onthe information processing apparatus.

<Supplementary Notes>

The whole or part of the exemplary embodiments disclosed above can bedescribed as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.Hereinafter, outlines of the configurations of a collation system, aninformation processing apparatus, a program, and a collation method,according to the present invention, will be described. However, thepresent invention is not limited to the configurations described below.

(Supplementary Note 1)

A collation system comprising:

-   -   imaging means for acquiring a captured image of a pre-passage        side area with respect to a gate;    -   collation means for performing a collation process between a        previously registered target and a target in the captured image;        and    -   determination means for determining propriety of passage of the        target with respect to the gate, on a basis of a result of the        collation process, wherein the collation means initiates the        collation process on a basis of a condition, set to each area of        the captured image, for the target located in the area.

According to the configuration described above, the collation systeminitiates a collation process for a target located in a given area of acaptured image when the target satisfies the condition set to the area.Therefore, even if a target who is about to pass through another gate isshown in the captured image, it is possible to prevent initiation of acollation process with respect to the target according to the conditionset to the area where the target is shown. Consequently, it is possibleto suppress erroneous recognition of a person who is about to passthrough a gate, and to suppress unnecessary collation processes tothereby reduce the processing load on the information processingapparatus.

(Supplementary Note 2)

The collation system according to supplementary note 1, furthercomprising

-   -   target information detection means for detecting target        information representing a feature of the target in the captured        image, wherein    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image satisfies a condition set to an area of the captured image        in which the target is located.

According to the configuration described above, target informationrepresenting a feature of the target in the captured image is detected,and when the target information satisfies the condition set to each areaof the captured image, a collation process for the target is initiated.Therefore, by setting a condition not to initiate a collation process tothe target information of the target, it is possible to suppresserroneous recognition of the person and to suppress unnecessarycollation processes.

(Supplementary Note 3)

The collation system according to supplementary note 2, wherein

-   -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image satisfies a condition set to each area divided in a        horizontal direction of the captured image in which the target        is located.

By setting a condition for each area divided in the horizontal directionas described above, erroneous recognition of the target and anunnecessary collation process can be suppressed.

(Supplementary Note 4)

The collation system according to supplementary note 3, wherein

-   -   the target information detection means detects a size of the        target as the target information,    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image is larger than a value that is a condition set to each        area of the captured image in which the target is located, and    -   a value that is a condition for the target information of the        target, set to an end area relative to a center area in the        horizontal direction of the captured image, is set to be larger        than a value that is a condition for the target information of        the target set to the center area.

(Supplementary Note 5)

The collation system according to supplementary note 4, wherein

-   -   the target information detection means detects a distance        between predetermined parts of a face of a person that is the        target, as the target information representing the size of the        target.

According to the configuration described above, a condition with respectto the size of the target shown in the end area is set to be larger thanthe size of the target shown in the center area. For example, in thecase where the target is a person, a condition for the distance betweenpredetermined parts of the face of a person is set to be larger in theend area than that in the center area. Therefore, when the target who isabout to pass through the adjacent gate is shown in the end area, sincethe size of the target does not satisfy the condition, erroneousrecognition of the target and an unnecessary collation process can besuppressed. On the other hand, when the target who is about to passthrough the corresponding gate is shown in the end area, the size of thetarget satisfies the condition. Therefore, a collation process can beinitiated appropriately.

(Supplementary Note 6)

The collation system according to supplementary note 3, wherein

-   -   the target information detection means detects orientation of        the target with respect to the gate as the target information,    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image satisfies a condition set to each area of the captured        image in which the target is located, and    -   a condition for the target information of the target, set to an        end area relative to a center area in the horizontal direction        of the captured image, and a condition for the target        information of the target, set to the center area, are different        from each other.

(Supplementary Note 7)

The collation system according to supplementary note 6, wherein

-   -   the target information detection means detects an angle of a        face of a person that is the target with respect to the imaging        means as the target information representing the orientation of        the target, on a basis of a position of a predetermined part of        the face of the person,    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the angle that is the target information of the        target in the captured image is equal to or smaller than a value        that is a condition set to each area of the captured image in        which the target is located, and    -   a value that is a condition for the target information of the        target, set to an end area relative to a center area in the        horizontal direction of the captured image, is set to be larger        than a value of an angle that is a condition for the target        information of the target set to the center area.

According to the configuration described above, a condition with respectto the orientation of the target is set to be different between thecenter area and the end area. For example, in the case where the targetis a person, a condition for an angle of the face of a person withrespect to the imaging device is set to be larger in the end area thanthat in the center area. Therefore, when the target who is about to passthrough the corresponding gate, since the angle of the target satisfiesthe condition, a collation process can be initiated appropriately. Onthe other hand, when the target who is about to pass through theadjacent gate is shown in the end area, the angle of the target does notsatisfy the condition. Therefore, erroneous recognition of the targetand an unnecessary collation process can be suppressed.

(Supplementary Note 8)

An information processing apparatus comprising:

-   -   collation means for performing a collation process between a        target in a captured image of a pre-passage side area with        respect to a gate and a previously registered target; and    -   determination means for determining propriety of passage of the        target with respect to the gate, on a basis of a result of the        collation process, wherein    -   the collation means initiates the collation process on a basis        of a condition, set to each area of the captured image, for the        target located in the area.

(Supplementary Note 9)

The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 8,further comprising

-   -   target information detection means for detecting target        information representing a feature of the target in the captured        image, wherein    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image satisfies a condition set to an area of the captured image        in which the target is located.

(Supplementary Note 10)

A program for causing an information processing apparatus to realize:

-   -   collation means for performing a collation process between a        target in a captured image of a pre-passage side area with        respect to a gate and a previously registered target; and    -   determination means for determining propriety of passage of the        target with respect to the gate, on a basis of a result of the        collation process, wherein    -   the collation means initiates the collation process on a basis        of a condition, set to each area of the captured image, for the        target located in the area.

(Supplementary Note 11)

The program according to supplementary note 10, further causing theinformation processing apparatus to realize

-   -   target information detection means for detecting target        information representing a feature of the target in the captured        image, wherein    -   the collation means initiates the collation process for the        target when the target information of the target in the captured        image satisfies a condition set to an area of the captured image        in which the target is located.

(Supplementary Note 12)

A collation method comprising, by an information processing apparatus:

-   -   performing a collation process between a target in a captured        image of a pre-passage side area with respect to a gate and a        previously registered target; and    -   determining propriety of passage of the target with respect to        the gate, on a basis of a result of the collation process,        wherein the information processing apparatus initiates the        collation process on a basis of a condition, set to each area of        the captured image, for the target located in the area.

(Supplementary Note 13)

The collation method according to supplementary note 12, furthercomprising

-   -   by the information processing apparatus, detecting target        information representing a feature of the target in the captured        image, wherein    -   the information processing apparatus initiates the collation        process for the target when the target information of the target        in the captured image satisfies a condition set to an area of        the captured image in which the target is located.

It should be noted that the program described above may be stored in astorage device or stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Thestorage medium is a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an opticaldisk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, for example.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theexemplary embodiments described above, the present invention is notlimited to the above-described embodiments. The form and details of thepresent invention can be changed within the scope of the presentinvention in various manners that can be understood by those skilled inthe art.

The present invention is based upon and claims the benefit of priorityfrom Japanese patent application No. 2017-179063, filed on Sep. 19,2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   10 face authentication system    -   11 target extraction unit    -   12 condition determination unit    -   13 collation unit    -   14 gate control unit    -   15 collation condition storage unit    -   16 collation data storage unit    -   100 collation system    -   110 imaging means    -   120 collation means    -   130 determination means    -   200 information processing apparatus    -   210 collation means    -   220 determination means    -   C1, C2, C3 imaging device    -   D1 display device    -   G1, G2, G3 gate

1. An information processing method comprising: acquiring a capturedimage of a pre-passage side area of a first gate corresponding to afirst lane; detecting a feature amount of a person from the capturedimage; and recognizing a person moving on the first lane on a basis ofthe feature amount of a person located in a specific area in thecaptured image.
 2. The information processing method according to claim1, further comprising: recognizing the person moving on the first laneon the basis of the feature amount of a person located in an end area ina horizontal direction in the captured image.
 3. The informationprocessing method according to claim 2, further comprising: in a casewhere the feature amount of the person located in the end area in thehorizontal direction in the captured image exceeds a value set to theend area, recognizing the person as the person moving on the first lane.4. The information processing method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: determining whether to initiate a collation process on abasis of whether or not the recognized person is on the first lane. 5.The information processing method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: determining a priority order for a collation process on thebasis of the feature amount of the person.
 6. An information processingdevice comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions;and at least one processor configured to execute instructions to:acquire a captured image of a pre-passage side area of a first gatecorresponding to a first lane; detect a feature amount of a person fromthe captured image; and recognize a person moving on the first lane on abasis of the feature amount of a person located in a specific area inthe captured image.
 7. The information processing device according toclaim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute theinstructions to recognize the person moving on the first lane on thebasis of the feature amount of a person located in an end area in ahorizontal direction in the captured image.
 8. The informationprocessing device according to claim 7, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case wherethe feature amount of the person located in the end area in thehorizontal direction in the captured image exceeds a value set to theend area, recognize the person as the person moving on the first lane.9. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein theat least one processor is configured to execute the instructions todetermine whether to initiate a collation process on a basis of whetheror not the recognized person is on the first lane.
 10. The informationprocessing device according to claim 6, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to execute the instructions to determine apriority order for a collation process on the basis of the featureamount of the person.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring thereon a program comprising instructions for causing a computerto execute processing to: acquire a captured image of a pre-passage sidearea of a first gate corresponding to a first lane; detect a featureamount of a person from the captured image; and recognize a personmoving on the first lane on a basis of the feature amount of a personlocated in a specific area in the captured image.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing thereon the program according to claim11, wherein the program comprises instructions for causing the computerto execute the processing to recognize the person moving on the firstlane on the basis of the feature amount of a person located in an endarea in a horizontal direction in the captured image.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon the programaccording to claim 12, wherein the program comprises instructions forcausing the computer to execute the processing to, in a case where thefeature amount of the person located in the end area in the horizontaldirection in the captured image exceeds a value set to the end area,recognize the person as the person moving on the first lane.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon the programaccording to claim 11, wherein the program comprises instructions forcausing the computer to execute the processing to determine whether toinitiate a collation process on a basis of whether or not the recognizedperson is on the first lane.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing thereon the program according to claim 11, wherein theprogram comprises instructions for causing the computer to execute theprocessing to determine a priority order for a collation process on thebasis of the feature amount of the person.